WASHINGTON, DC - July 4, 2005 - The National Space Society sends
a hearty congratulations to NASA and the JPL team for the
spectacular mission success of the Deep Impact comet mission.

"The amazing bulls-eye of Deep Impact is exploration at its
best," said George Whitesides, Executive Director of NSS. "It is
exactly what NASA should be doing."

Beyond teaching us about the origins of our solar system, the
knowledge gained by this mission will also help protect our planet
in the future. By teaching us what comets are made of and how
they're affected by impacts, the success of this mission will help
scientists learn how to assess the risk of and possibly deflect
comets that wander uncomfortably close to Earth in the future.

"The impact picture is destined to join the images that define
humanity's exploration history," continued Whitesides. "NASA has
given us the biggest firework of all to kick off this Independence
Day."

# # #

About the National Space Society

The National Space Society (NSS) is an independent, grassroots
organization dedicated to the creation of a spacefaring
civilization. Founded in 1974, NSS is widely acknowledged as the
preeminent citizen's voice on space. NSS counts thousands of
members and over 50 chapters in the United States and around the
world. The society also publishes Ad Astra magazine, an
award-winning periodical chronicling the most important
developments in space.